Arsenal Play Down Guendouzi Link With PSG

”I Don’t Want This” Says Emery

Reports earlier this week linked the French giants with a £60million bid for the 19-year-old.

Guendouzi joined Arsenal in a £7million move from another Ligue 1 side, Lille, last summer. It had been thought that he would be a bit-part player this season with limited first-team chances as Emery eased him into the rigours of Premier League football. But the young Frenchman made his 33rd appearance of the campaign as the Gunners swept aside BATE Borisov to reach the last 16 of the Europa League.

After the match, Emery was asked about PSG’s interest.

“I am surprised,” he said. “I don’t want this.

“His development is like we want. He has a big ambition, big quality. Sometimes we need more quality with him and sometimes we need for him to be more stronger in midfield.

“But his development with us is very important and he’s playing with big consistency and I think he is improving a lot. His quality is very impressive for us.”

Arsenal trailed 1-0 to last week’s first leg in Belarus. But an own goal on four minutes helped calm their nerves and headers from Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos settled the tie.

“It was a good test, a good challenge,” said Emery. “The first match we deserved more, but that can happen. We had chances we didn’t score. They were efficient when they found their moment.

“Today we didn’t concede a lot of corners or free-kicks close to our box and we pushed and carried on and scored the goals.”